I walked toward the tech shop, the black metallic bank card sitting safely in my pocket. My steps were lighter now. I wasn't walking to a job where I would be told what to do; I was walking toward my first negotiation.
When I entered the shop, it was much quieter than the day before. The big delivery truck was gone, and the warehouse was organized. The Boss was sitting at his desk, rubbing his eyes and looking over a pile of boring paperwork.
"Oh, it's you, kid," he said, looking up. He gave a tired smile. "You're early. Ready to get back to those crates?"
"Actually, Boss," I said, standing tall. "I'm here to discuss something different today. I'm resigning from my position as an errand boy."
The Boss froze. He set his pen down and leaned back, looking confused. "Resigning? Did someone offer you more? Look, I know 100 creds isn't much, but for a kid your age—"
"It's not about the money, Boss," I interrupted him gently. "I've started my own research company, SIGLAV CORP. I want to move from being your worker to being your business partner."
The Boss stared at me for a long time. Then, he burst out laughing. "A company? You? Kid, you've got a big heart, but you're only fifteen! You need more than a dream to run a business."
Instead of arguing, I reached into my bag and pulled out the laptop I had repaired last night. I flipped it open. It booted up in three seconds, the screen glowing with a crisp, high-definition light that his shop's machines didn't even have.
"I fixed this using the 'trash' you were going to throw away yesterday," I said. "I also fixed the electricity in my home using your broken parts. My company focuses on making the impossible work again."
The Boss stopped laughing. He stood up and walked over to the laptop, his eyes widening as he saw the speed and the quality of the repair. He touched the casing, feeling how smooth it was.
"You did this... in one night?" he whispered. "With no proper tools?"
"Imagine what I could do with a steady supply of parts," I said. "I want to buy all your 'wanted' or broken tech—the stuff that sits in your warehouse for months because nobody can fix it. I'll buy it for a fair price, and you'll have more space for your new stock. It's a win for both of us."
The Boss looked at the laptop, then at me. He saw the same look in my eyes that he had praised the day before—the look of someone who wouldn't fail.
"You really aren't an ordinary kid, are you, Sadd?" he asked, a grin spreading across his face. "Fine. If you can do magic like this, I'd be a fool to say no. I have a whole back room of 'unfixable' junk. I'll sell it to you for 2,000 creds—the whole pile. Does that sound like a deal for SIGLAV CORP?"
"Deal," I said, pulling out my black card. "I'll pay right now."
The Boss was amazed. He had never seen a minor with a private business card. As the transaction went through, I felt a deep sense of pride. I had my first supplier, my first set of tools, and a partner who finally saw me as an equal.
"Boss," I said, looking around the cluttered shop. "I need a place to work. My current 'office' is a bit too small. Can you help me find a small workshop to hold my goods and my tools?"
The Boss scratched his chin. "No problem at all, kid. I have a friend who owns several shops downtown. The space is good, but the monthly rent is 1,500 creds. Are you up for that?"
"I am super ready," I replied without a second thought.
"Then contact this number," he said, scribbling on a piece of paper. "Don't forget to mention my name. It will make the transaction much easier."
"Thank you, Boss."
"You're welcome, my little boy," he said with a proud look. "I wish you a great journey."
As I stepped out of the shop, the familiar chime rang in my mind.
UIA: Master, you have opened the Path of Entrepreneurship. Your ability to negotiate and manage assets will now grow 50% faster.
"Hey, UIA," I thought, "find a location nearby where I can buy some phones. We need a way to talk to each other."
UIA: Searching... There is a mobile dealer two blocks away. Navigating now.
The Upgrade
I walked into the mobile store. The glass cases were filled with glowing devices. A clerk approached me with a polite smile. "Hello! How can I help you today?"
"I am here to buy some phones," I said. "My budget is 3,000 creds. I want three phones—something affordable but reliable."
"I see," the clerk said, pointing to a shelf. "For that price, I have the Aero A3 for 930 creds and the X1 for 1,000 creds. Both are top quality, though they are a little outdated compared to the newest Elite models."
"That's no problem," I said. "Give me two of the X1 and one Aero A3."
"Of course. That will be 2,930 creds in total."
I swiped my black metallic card. As the transaction cleared, I looked at the three boxes in my bag. The money was running down fast, but these were investments.
I still need to pay for the workshop and hire a cargo truck to move the goods from the Boss's warehouse, I thought. I need to register these numbers and call the landlord immediately.
I felt the pressure of the city pushing against me, but for the first time, I wasn't scared. I was a business owner. I was a provider. And soon, I would be the most powerful "Helper" Awiebo had ever seen.
I didn't waste any time. After registering the numbers for the three new phones, I immediately called the landlord the Boss had recommended. We met at the workshop downtown—a small, sturdy building with a roll-up metal door and enough space for a proper workbench and storage racks.
The negotiation was quick. I showed him my new business card and spoke with the confidence of a man twice my age.
"I'll pay two months in advance right now," I told him, "if you can give me a discount on the future monthly payments."
The landlord, a stout man who appreciated cash upfront, nodded slowly. "You're a sharp one, kid. Fine. If you pay the 3,000 creds now for the first two months, I'll reduce all your future monthly payments from 1,500 to 1,300 creds."
"Deal," I said, swiping my card again.
Next, I hurried to a cargo shop nearby. I needed a truck and a couple of strong workers to move all the "trash" tech I had bought from the Boss. The transportation and labor fee came to 1,500 creds.
As I watched the workers start loading the crates of broken laptops and circuit boards into the truck, I pulled out my phone and checked my balance one last time.
SIGLAV CORP FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Starting Balance: 10,000 Creds
Phone Purchases: -2,930 Creds
Workshop Rent (2 Months): -3,000 Creds
Cargo & Transportation: -1,500 Creds
Previous Tech Purchase: -2,000 Creds
Remaining Balance: 570 Creds
I looked at the number on the screen—570 creds.
I had started the morning with a fortune, and now I was almost back to where I started. But I didn't feel poor. I looked at the workshop key in my hand and the truck full of equipment. I had a base of operations, a way to contact my sisters, and enough raw material to build something incredible.
"The money is almost gone," I whispered, a determined smile on my face. "But the empire has officially been born."
I climbed into the front seat of the cargo truck. "Let's go to the new workshop," I told the driver. "I have a lot of work to do before the sun goes down."